Begonia plant named ‘Sunjiraka’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Sunjiraka’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; and numerous single deep red-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the foliar plane.

Botanical designation: Begonia×tuberhybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNJIRAKA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia×tuberhybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunjiraka’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Narusawa-mura, Minamituru-gun, Yamanashi, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and freely branching Begonia plants with a mounding plant habit and attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Narusawa-mura, Minamituru-gun, Yamanashi, Japan in June, 2007 of a proprietary selection of Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number FC04Rp314N, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number FC04Cr312N1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Narusawa-mura, Minamituru-gun, Yamanashi, Japan in July, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by cuttings taken in a controlled greenhouse environment in Narusawa-mura, Minamituru-gun, Yamanashi, Japan since July, 2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunjiraka’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunjiraka’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Numerous single deep red-colored flowers that are held above         and beyond the foliar plane.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have thicker stems than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have smaller male flowers than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have rose pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have larger leaves than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have larger male flowers than         plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘Firecracker Orange’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Narusawa-mura, Minamituru-gun, Yamanashi, Japan, plants of the new Begonia differed primarily from plants of ‘Firecracker Orange’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia were more compact than plants of         ‘Firecracker Orange’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia had shorter internodes than plants         of ‘Firecracker Orange’.     -   3 Plants of the new Begonia had shorter leaves and leaf petioles         than plants of ‘Firecracker Orange’.     -   4. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Firecracker Orange’ differed         in leaf and leaf petiole color.     -   5. Plants of the new Begonia were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Firecracker Orange’.     -   6. Plants of the new Begonia had larger male flowers than plants         of ‘Firecracker Orange’.     -   7. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Firecracker Orange’ differed         in flower color as plants of ‘Firecracker Orange’ had slightly         darker orange red-colored flowers.     -   8. Plants of the new Begonia had shorter peduncles than plants         of ‘Firecracker Orange’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunjiraka’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close up view of a typical flower of ‘Sunjiraka’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late summer/early autumn in 12-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan under commercial practices. During the production of the plants, the day temperatures averaged 23° C. and the night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were four months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘Sunjiraka’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number FC04Rp314N,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number FC04Cr312N1,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days at             temperatures of 17° C. to 28° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 days at             temperatures of 14° C. to 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days             at temperatures of 17° C. to 28° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 40 days             at temperatures of 14° C. to 23° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; plants of the new Begonia             have been observed to form tubers during the winter. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Compact and mounding plant             habit, outwardly spreading; freely branching with good stem             strength; flowers are single and positioned above and beyond             the foliar plane; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 18.6 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 31.1 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15.6 cm. Diameter: About             5.6 mm. Internode length: About 2.1 cm. Aspect: Upright to             outwardly. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to             176C.         -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length: About             10.1 cm. Width: About 4.6 cm. Shape: Lanceolate,             asymmetrical. Apex: Acute. Base: Cordate. Margin: Serrate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Venation pattern: Palmate. Color: Developing leaves, upper             surface: Close to 143A; towards the margin, close to 144B             tinted with close to 175B. Developing leaves, lower surface:             Close to 143C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close             to N137C; venation, close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 138B; venation, close to 138C.             Petioles: Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 2.4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 177B tinted with close to 178B.             Stipules: Length: About 6.5 cm. Width: About 3.9 cm. Shape:             Narrowly deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 199B; towards the             apex, close to 60C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Single flowers arranged in axillary cymes;             usually about four to six flowers per cyme and about 20             cymes developing per plant; flowers positioned above and             beyond the foliar plane; flowers not pendulous.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about two             months after planting; in the garden, plants flower             continuously from the spring to late autumn in Japan;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Male flowers buds.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About             1.1 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to N34A.         -   Male flowers.—Shape: Cruciform. Diameter: About 5.6 cm.             Depth (height): About 3.1 cm. Tepals: Quantity and             arrangement: Four per flower in a single whorl. Length:             About 3.9 cm. Width: About 3.4 cm. Shape: Lanceolate to             ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 46B. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 46C.         -   Female flowers buds.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About             8.9 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to N34A.         -   Female flowers.—Shape: Rounded. Diameter: About 4.7 cm.             Depth (height): About 2.1 cm. Tepals: Quantity and             arrangement: Five per flower in a single whorl. Length:             About 3 cm. Width: About 8.4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 45A. When opening and             fully opened, lower surface: Close to 45B.         -   Flower bracts.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm.             Color: Close to 143C; towards the margin, close to 46B.         -   Peduncles.—Angle: Outwardly. Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter:             About 3.6 mm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to             176D.         -   Pedicels.—Angle: Outwardly. Length: About 2 cm. Diameter:             About 1.1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             162C tinted with close to 42B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About 25 per male             flower. Length: About 5 mm. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther             length: About 1.3 mm. Anther diameter: About 1 mm. Anther             color: Close to 14A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 8D. Pistils: Quantity: One per female flower.             Length: About 1.4 cm. Stigma shape: Six-lobed, convoluted.             Stigma color: Close to 24A. Style color: Close to 24A. Ovary             length: About 8.6 mm. Ovary diameter: About 7.3 mm. Ovary             color: Close to N34A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Begonia. -   Postproduction longevity: Excellent postproduction longevity, plants     last about 220 days. -   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common     to Begonias has not been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 14° C. to about 28° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘Sunjiraka’ as illustrated and described. 